Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP19996) and 14 other sources
Stephen Hammerle, a 26-year-old man from Manhattan, Kansas, was last seen on August 22, 1981. His disappearance has left his family and law enforcement searching for answers for decades, as the circumstances surrounding his vanishing remain unresolved. Stephen was described as a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds at the time he went missing. His sudden disappearance has baffled those who knew him, as there was no indication that he intended to leave or disappear without notice.

The details leading up to Stephen’s last known whereabouts are unclear, and there has been little information regarding what might have happened to him. He was last seen in the Manhattan area, but no significant clues have emerged to explain his fate. Despite an active investigation at the time and several efforts by law enforcement to find him, the case went cold, and no breakthroughs have been reported over the years. Authorities have asked for the public’s help, urging anyone with information about Stephen’s disappearance to come forward, but no substantial leads have surfaced.

Over the years, Stephen Hammerle’s case has remained unsolved, leaving his family without answers. Despite the passing of time, they continue to hope that one day his fate will be uncovered. Law enforcement has kept the case open, maintaining that any new information could potentially break the case. Stephen's disappearance serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of missing person investigations, where time can often erode leads and leave families waiting for answers that may never come. The search for closure continues, as those close to Stephen still hope for resolution.

Last Seen: Aug 22, 1981

Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

78%Possible
John Doe — Missouri
UP5021 • Found Apr 22, 1992
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%99 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 145–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Wichita, Kansas
UP2430 • Found Aug 29, 1986
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–30 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 73%111 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 145–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
75%Possible
John Doe — Kansas City, Missouri
UP5320 • Found Oct 30, 1995
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 73%109 mi away
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Carter, Oklahoma - unidentified case UP4908
John Doe — Carter, Oklahoma
UP4908 • Found Feb 16, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 26
Race 100%White
Location 43%318 mi away
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 145–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.